Squirrels.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



55 



223 (or the teeth of Tamias, and Fig. 224 for the 

 teeth of Sciurus). The incisors are laterally com- 



g 5 4 4 



pressed : the molars, --^, rarely - — - , are equal 



in size or nearly so, excepting the anterior molar of 

 the upper jaw, where they are 5 — 5, which is smaller 

 than the rest. The series of molars on each side are 

 widely separate and parallel. It is in the possession 

 of a lateral fold of skin, forming, when extended, a 

 parachute, enabling them to "take long sweeping 

 leaps, that the flying squirrels are distinguishable 

 from the ordinary group. These expansions are 

 fully clothed with soft fur; and they usually project 

 in a pointed form from each wrist, being there sup- 

 ported by a long slender osseous stylet. In some 

 species, as the one figured, this is either reduced to 

 a mere tubercle or wanting. 



The flying squirrels are conspicuous for the ra- 

 pidity of their evolutions : they ascend the trees with 

 such" velocity that the eye can scarcely follow them ; 

 and they skim from one tree to another, or precipi- 

 tate themselves to the ground, with singular agility. 

 In their habits they are nocturnal. 



These elegant animals are respectively natives of 

 the northern regions of Europe, the north of Asia, 

 the north of America, and the glowing islands of 

 the Indian Archipelago. The present species is 

 one of the American flying squirrels, and was dis- 

 covered by Dr. Drummond, on the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, where it lives in dense pine-forests, seldom 

 venturing from its retreat except in the night. Dr. 

 Richardson received specimens from the Elk river, 

 and also from the south branch of the Mackenzie. 

 Whether it is a mere variety of the Pt. Sabrinus or 

 a distinct species is not clear. 



Its general colour is yellowish-brown above. The 

 tail is flat, longer than the body, and blackish-grey. 

 Total length fourteen inches three lines, of which 

 the tail, including the fur, measures six inches three 

 lines. 



225. — The Common Ground-Squirrel 

 {Tamias striatus). Unlike the true squirrels, the 

 ground-squirrels are chiefly terrestrial in their ha- 

 bits, and are furnished with cheek-pouches, in 

 which they carry food to their retreats, forming 

 magazines for winter. They live in burrows, but 

 do not appear to become torpid. Their fur is shorter 

 and closer, and the tail less bushy than in their ar- 

 boreal relatives. These animals are chiefly spread 

 through the northern and temperate regions of 

 Europe, Asia, and America. The palm-squirrel of 

 India, and the Barbary squirrel, though associated 

 by some authors with the ground-squirrels, occupy 

 an intermediate situation between the latter and the 

 true arboreal species. 



The common ground-squirrel is a native of the 

 north-eastern part of Europe and the north of Asia. 

 It is the Ecureuil Suisse of the French, so called 

 because its striped back has some resemblance to a 

 Swiss doublet. According to Pallas, these striped 

 squirrels dig their burrows in woody places, in small 

 hummocks of earth, or near the roots of trees ; but 

 never, like the common squirrels, make their nests 

 in the trunk or branches, although when scared from 

 their holes they climb with facility, and make their 

 way from branch to branch with great speed. A 

 winding passage leads to their nest, and they gene- 

 rally form two or three lateral chambers to store 

 their food in. The striped squirrel in its manners, 

 and from having cheek-pouches, is allied to the 

 hamster and Citillus (type of the genus Spermophi- 

 lus), and is likewise connected with the latter by 

 its convex nose, proper for an animal accustomed 

 to dig. In its whole habit it differs from the squir- 

 rels which live in trees, and forms, with other striped 

 squirrels, a division of the genus. It has a longer 

 head than the common squirrel ; rounded ears, not 

 tufted ; a roundish, hairy tail, which it less frequently 

 turns up ; a slender body, and shorter limbs. The 

 fur likewise is very short and less fine. Yet in its 

 diurnal habits, and in not becoming torpid in win- 

 ter, it comes near the squirrels : it is difficult to 

 tame. 



226. — Parry's Spermophile 

 (Spermophihis Parryi). The genus Spermophilus is 

 intermediate between the Ground-Squirrels and the 

 Marmots. Besides possessing cheek-pouches, the 

 Spermophiles are distinguished by the closeness of 

 the ears, the slender form of the body, which is 

 squirrel-like, and the narrowness of the paws. 



Two species are natives of eastern Europe, viz. 

 the Souslik of the Volga, and the Zizel or Susel of 

 Hungary, Poland, &c, which are, perhaps, mere 

 varieties. Many species are American, one of which, 

 Parry's Spermophile, is the species figured. 



Colour of the body above, a mixture of white 

 thickly spotted on a grey or black ground ; face 

 chestnut ; under parts rust-brown ; tail with a nar- 

 row white margin, and black at the extremity. 

 This, according to Dr. Richardson, who first named 

 the species, is the Ground-Squirrel of Heme ; the 

 Quebec Marmot of Forster ; the Seek-Seek of the 



Esquimaux ; the Thoe-thiay (Rock Badger) of the 

 Chepevvyans; and the Arctomys Alpina of Parry's 

 ' Second Voyage.' 



Dr. Richardson states that it inhabits the barren 

 grounds skirting the sea-coast from Churchill in 

 Hudson's Bay round by Melville Peninsula, and the 

 whole northern extremity of the continent to 

 Behring's Straits, where specimens precisely similar 

 were procured by Captain Beechey. It. is abundant 

 in the neighbourhood of Fort Enterprise, near the 

 southern verge of the Barren Grounds, in lat. 65°, 

 and is also plentiful on Cape Parry, one of the most 

 northern parts of the continent. It is found generally 

 in stony districts, but seems to delight chiefly in 

 sandy hillocks amongst rocks, where burrows, in- 

 habited by different individuals, may be often ob- 

 served crowded together. One of the society is 

 generally observed sitting erect on the summit of a 

 hillock whilst the others are feeding in the neigh- 

 bourhood. Upon the approach of danger, he gives 

 the alarm, and they instantly hurry to their holes, 

 remaining however chattering at the entrance until 

 the advance of the enemy obliges them to retire to 

 the bottom. When their retreat is cut off, they be- 

 come much terrified, and, seeking shelter in the 

 first crevice, they not unfrequently succeed only in 

 hiding the head and fore-part of the body, whilst 

 the projecting tail is, as is usual with them under 

 the influence of terror, spread out fiat, on the rock. 

 Their cry, in this season of distress, strongly resem- 

 bles the loud alarm of the Hudson's Bay Squirrel, 

 and is not very unlike the sound of a watchman's 

 rattle. The Esquimaux name is an attempt to 

 express this sound. Heme states that they are 

 easily tamed, and very cleanly and playful when 

 domesticated. They never come abroad during the 

 winter. Their food appears to be entirely vegeta- 

 ble ; their pouches being generally filled, according 

 to the season, with tender shoots of herbaceous 

 plants, berries of the alpine arbutus, and of other 

 trailing shrubs, or the seeds of grasses and legumi- 

 nous plants. They produce about seven young at a 

 time. 



The true Marmots (Arctomys) are thicker, more 

 robust, and less elegant in figure than the Sper- 

 mophiles ; the head is broad and flat, and the muzzle 

 obtuse ; the limbs are short, and there are no cheek- 

 pouches. 



227, 228, 229.— The Alpine Marmot 



{Arctomys Marmotd). This well-known species is 

 common in the high mountain districts of Europe, 

 where it takes up its abode just below the line of 

 perpetual snow, excavating a deep burrow, to which 

 it has recourse on every appearance of an enemy. 

 In this, which it lines with dried grass, moss, &c, 

 it hybernates during the severity of the season. 

 The burrows of the marmot are always constructed 

 in dry situations, and mostly on declivities exposed 

 to the south or south-east. They are of considerable 

 extent, and are worked out. and tenanted by families 

 consisting of from five to fifteen individuals. They 

 begin by a passage which runs for about six feet, 

 and is just capable of admitting the animal's body. 

 From the farther end of this gallery two others 

 bifurcate, one of which, according to Desmarest, 

 leads to a sort of chamber in the form of an oven, 

 from three to seven feet in diameter ; the other ends 

 abruptly, and serves as a storehouse for dried grasses, 

 &c. According to some, these passages are not 

 always to be met with, and MM. Geoffroy and F. 

 Cuvicr assert that the cell is at the end of the first 

 gallery. During the summer months, groups of 

 these animals may be seen feeding and sporting on 

 the mountain-side. They never wander to any great 

 distance from their burrows, and have always one 

 or more of their number posted as sentinels, which 

 by a piercing cry give warning of danger. About 

 the middle of September they betake themselves to 

 their winter dormitories, and close the entrance with 

 earth and the dried grass which they have accumu- 

 lated : here they sink into a profound repose, from 

 which they do not awaken till the return of April. 

 Though timid and inoffensive, these animals defend 

 themselves resolutely when driven to an extremity, 

 and their powerful incisors inflict severe wounds. 

 They lift their food to their mouths while sitting 

 squirrel-like, and will walk on their hind-feet. On 

 retiring for the winter, they are at first very fat, and 

 numbers are taken at this season, partly for the sake 

 of their skins, and partly for their flesh, which is 

 eaten by the mountaineers. The young are easily 

 tamed, and are often carried about by the Savoyards 

 for the purpose of exhibition. The marmot pro- 

 duces from three to five at a birth. 



This species is of about the size of a rabbit. Its 

 general colour is yellowish-grey, passing into hoary 

 about the cheeks, and blackish-grey on the top of 

 the head ; the tip of the tail is black, 



230.— The Bobac. 



{Arctomys Bobac). This species inhabits the regions 

 of Poland through which flow the Dneiper and its 



tributary streams, whence it ranges through a great 

 part of "Northern Asia. It gives preference to hills 

 of moderate elevation, where it chooses a dry lo- 

 cality in which to construct its burrows. These are 

 carried to a great depth, and are tenanted by fami- 

 lies consisting of twenty or even forty individuals. 

 It accumulates in its retreat, a quantity of dried 

 herbage for use, before the severity of the season 

 commences, and for early spring consumption, as 

 well as for the sake of warmth. General colour 

 of the fur greyish-yellow mingled with brown, which 

 latter forms transverse undulations on the upper 

 parts. Under parts rust-brown. Length of head 

 and body sixteen or seventeen inches ; of the tail 

 six inches. 



231. — The Quebec Marmot. 



(Arctomys Empetra). This species is one of the 

 American marmots, and is a native of Canada and 

 the neighbourhood of Hudson's Bay. It is the Que- 

 bec Marmot of Pennant and Godman ; the Common 

 Marmot of Langsdorff; the Thick-wood Badger of 

 the Hudson's Bay residents ; the Siffleur of the 

 French Canadians, who apply the same name to the 

 other species of marmot and to the badger ; Tarbagan 

 of the Russian residents on Kodiak(?) ; Weenusk of 

 the Crees; Kath-hillaa-Kooay of the Chepewyans; 

 Mus Empetra of Pallas ; and Arctomys Empetra of 

 Sabine and others. 



Dr. Richardson, who gives the above synonyms, 

 states that the Quebec marmot inhabits the woody 

 districts from Canada to lat. 61°, and perhaps still 

 farther north. He says that it appears to be a 

 solitary animal, inhabits burrows in the earth, but 

 ascends bushes and trees, probably in search of buds 

 and other vegetable productions on which it feeds. 

 Mr. Drummond killed two, one on some low bushes, 

 and the other on the branch of a tree. According 

 to Mr. Graham it burrows perpendicularly, selecting 

 dry spots, at some distance from the coast, and feed- 

 ing on the coarse grass which gathers on the river 

 sides. The Indians capture it by pouring water into 

 its holes. Its flesh is considered delicate when the 

 animal is fat, but its fur is valueless. 



DORMICE 



(Myoxidai). The dormice seem to connect the 

 squirrels, on the one hand, to the murine groups on 

 the other. They are arboreal in their habits, and 

 clothed with fine soft fur. The toes are four on 

 each fore-foot, with the vestige of a fifth ; the hind- 

 feet have five toes. The dentition (Fig. 232) is as 



o 4 4 



follows : — Incisors,^: molars, - — -=-. Incisors laterally 



Z •* — <± 



compressed ; molars unequal in size, rooted ; the 

 series on each side of each jaw widely separated and 

 parallel. 



233, 234. — The Common Dormouse 



{Myoxus avellanarius). This elegant, little creature 

 is the Muscadin, Croque Noix, and Rat d'or of the 

 French ; Moscadino of the Italians ; Liron of the 

 Spanish ; Rothe Wald-maus, Hasel-maus, and Ha- 

 sel-schlafer of the Germans ; Skogsmus of the 

 Swedes ; Kassel-muus of the Danes ; and Pathew of 

 the ancient British. It has been supposed by some 

 that it was this species which the Romans fattened 

 in their Gliraria for the table ; but that animal was 

 most probably the Loir (M. Glis), which is common 

 in the woods of Italy, and which approaches a squir- 

 rel in size. 



Though common in the southern and midland 

 counties of England, the dormouse is not so abundant 

 in France as the Lerot (M. Nitela, Fig. 235), yet its 

 distribution is very extensive. It ranges from the 

 south of Europe as far north as Sweden. The fa- 

 vourite resorts of this little animal are dense thickets, 

 low woods and coppices of hazel, bushy dells, and 

 tangled hedgerows. It creeps about the branches 

 with a quick but gliding sort of movement, and with 

 singular facility. It leaps nimbly, and makes its 

 way so quickly through intertangled brushwood, 

 that it cannot be easily captured. The dormouse 

 appears to be in some degree gregarious, or at least 

 to colonize favourite spots, and ten or a dozen of 

 their nests have been seen at no great distance apart 

 in the shrubs of a thicket. These nests are made 

 of leaves, grass, &c. : they are of a rounded form, 

 about six inches in diameter, with the aperture at 

 the top. It is in these that the young are brought 

 forth and reared. The number of the young is about 

 four : they are born blind ; in a few days, however, 

 their eyes are opened ; and in a short period they 

 are capable of providing for themselves. Corn, haws, 

 hazel-nuts, and fallen acorns, constitute the food of 

 the dormouse. It eats sitting up like a squirrel, 

 holding the food between its paws ; and often it 

 hangs suspended by its hinder feet, in which posi- 

 tion it feeds as easily as in its ordinary attitude. 



Mr. Bell states that the name Avellanarius is not 

 well chosen, and that he never saw any dormouse 

 that could knaw through the shell of that nut when 

 fully ripe. We ourselves, however, have frequently 



